Friday, March 11, 2011
FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY – YEAR I
FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY – YEAR I
Is 58:1-9 / Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 18-19 / Mt 9:14-15
ISAIAH 58:1-9
Cry out aloud for all you are worth; raise your voice like a trumpet
blast; tell my people of their offenses, Jacob's family of their sins.
Is it true that they seek me day after day, longing to know my ways,
as a people that does what is right and has not forsaken the word of
its God? They want to know the just laws and not to drift away from
their God. "Why are we fasting," they complain, "and you do not even
see it? We are doing penance and you never notice it." Look, on your
fast days you push your trade and you oppress your laborers. Yes, you
fast but end up quarreling, striking each other with wicked blows.
Fasting as you do will not make your voice heard on high. Is that the
kind of fast that pleases me, just a day to humble oneself? Is fasting
merely bowing down one's head, and making use of sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call that fasting, a day acceptable to Yahweh? See the fast
that pleases me: breaking the fetters of injustice and unfastening the
thongs of the yoke, setting the oppressed free and breaking every
yoke. Fast by sharing your food with the hungry, bring to your house
the homeless, clothe the one you see naked and do not turn away from
your own kin. Then will your light will break forth as the dawn and
your healing come in a flash. Your righteousness will be your
vanguard, the Glory of Yahweh your rearguard. Then you will call and
Yahweh will answer, you will cry and he will say, I am here.
MATTHEW 9:14-15
The disciples of John came to Jesus with the question, "How is it that
we and the Pharisees fast on many occasions, but not your disciples?"
Jesus answered them, "How can you expect wedding guests to mourn as
long as the bridegroom is with them? Time will come when the
bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast."
REFLECTION
Generally speaking fasting is to deprive ourselves of food and drink.
Occasions and motives may vary. One may fast out of personal devotion,
mourning or ascetism. In the Church, fasting, together with prayer and
almsgiving, is one of the expressions of man's humility before God.
Christ denounces fasting or any good deeds done out of pride that is
"in order to be seen by men." Fasting should be practiced with perfect
discretion.
The disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees fasted twice a
week as defined by the Law and the prophets which is also one of the
elements of justification. However, this practice can become
ostentatious, a public show of one's piety. We cannot become justified
by our own merit and goodness. Christ insists more on detachment of
wealth and self-renunciation because he came to fulfill our
justification. There is yet another reason for fasting, the one Jesus
mentioned in the Gospel. It is the fasting of the faith, the absence
of the sight of the bridegroom and the continuous search for him.
While waiting for the return of the bridegroom penitential fasting has
its place in Church practice.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Jo Marcelo
- Jun Lee
- Nel de Leon
- Susan Seratan
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Ernesto Macatangay. Eternal
rest grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he and
all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Gio C. Ventura
- Birthday: Koshu Ramnani
- Birthday: Sis. Ramira Uy
- Birthday: Dr. Matilde Gonzales
- In Memoriam (+): Natividad Lee Chuakay
- In Memoriam (+): Saw Cen
- In Memoriam (+): Yang Moon Chu
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only.
Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends,
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following:
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| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
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SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY – YEAR I
SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY – YEAR I
Is 58:9-14 / Ps 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 / Lk 5:27-32
ISAIAH 58:9-14
Then you will call and Yahweh will answer, you will cry and he will
say, I am here. If you remove from your midst the yoke, the clenched
fist and the wicked word, if you share your food with the hungry and
give relief to the oppressed, then your light will rise in the dark,
your night will be like noon. Yahweh will guide you always and give
you relief in desert places. He will strengthen your bones; he will
make you as a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters
never fail. Your ancient ruins will be rebuilt, the age-old
foundations will be raised. You will be called the Breach-mender, and
the Restorer of ruined houses. If you stop profaning the sabbath and
doing as you please on the holy day, if you call the sabbath a day of
delight and keep sacred Yahweh's holy day, if you honor it by not
going your own way, not doing as you please and not speaking with
malice, then you will find happiness in Yahweh, over the heights you
will ride triumphantly, and feast joyfully on the inheritance of your
father Jacob you. The mouth of Yahweh has spoken.
LUKE 5:27-32
Jesus noticed a ta x collector named Levi sit ting in the tax-office,
he said to him, "Follow me." So Levi, leaving everything, got up and
followed Jesus. Levi gave a great feast for Jesus, and many tax
collectors came to his house and took their place at table with the
other people. Then the Pharisees and their fellow teachers complained
to Jesus' disciples, "How is it that you eat and drink with tax
collectors and other sinners?" But Jesus spoke up, "Healthy people
don't need a doctor, but sick people do. I have come to call to
repentance; I call sinners, not the righteous."
REFLECTION
The Gospel speaks of unconditional love and acceptance by reaching out
to those shunned by society. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law
deemed it unacceptable and even scandalous to be in the company of
those who were deemed unclean.
"Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but
the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance." We are reminded here that Jesus is the divine healer. He
nurtures and brings us back to life. It is only through him that we
experience complete healing of body and mind. And most importantly, he
heals us from within, frees us from the sins that ail us. He shows us
that everybody is worthy of God's love and healing.
We belong to the spectrum of the marginalized during times when we are
helpless, vulnerable and totally clueless of what to do. In our broken
lives, we continue to be in dire need of love and care. The Gospel
shows us that Jesus creates an atmosphere of trust, unconditional
love, compassion and kindness. He takes time out to eat and drink with
the people who are most in need. In his ministry, banquets and food
play a major par t in healing relationships. It is most fitting that
our Eucharist is a commemoration of that union between God and us. It
is through the Eucharist that we come together as one to celebrate
God's love and healing. Sharing in his Body and Blood renews our
spirits. Are we open to God's total healing when we approach him at
Holy Mass? Are we ready to accept others who also need the healing
love of Christ?
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Nel de Leon
- Susan Seratan
… In Thanksgiving: Andrew G.
… for the personal intentions of: Josheil Dapo
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Ernesto Macatangay
- Cynthia Cuaderno-Venturanza
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them.
May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only.
Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends,
colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the
following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
--
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GoogleGroup Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily
To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
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© 2011 Daily-Homily
